Carnivores of Light and Darkness by Alan Dean Foster (1998, Hardcover)

Carnivores of Light and Darkness by Alan Dean Foster - Fantasy. Book reviewed is the Warner Books, Inc June 1998 hardcover edition. The first of the trilogy "Journeys of the Catechist".

First, I guess I need to tell you that ADF generally is right up there in the list of my favorite authors. The reason being the Flinx stories, With Friends Like These, and numerous other novels, short stories, "letters to the editor" [his first sale which was to Arkham House], and almost anything else he has written. This story is among those I'm glad I've read. Although I tend to like action stories in the first person, this is a little different. It has plenty of action, but sometimes changes from the first to the third person and back again. And not always the same first person. It is a little disconcerning to be "living the book" [which is sort of the way I read fiction] and all of a sudden run across: "This is a story that is told to every member of the colony on the day when they slough off the last vestiges of pupahood and graduate to the status of worker, attendant, or soldier." The story then continues with a description of the events involving Ehomba (our "hero"). Oh well - it was still a good book and I'll probably re-read the whole set again one day. And that makes it a good book, IMO.

For a little more detail about the book, we have Ehomba: "Being a herdsman, he is used to hardship. Being humble, he asks many questions. Being simple, he is not surprised to be answered by beasts, trees, or forces of nature." (from the inside DJ). We also find that his philosophy is "We are all fallen leaves drifting on the river of life, and we go where the current takes us." His morality is such that a task laid on him by the request of a dying man he has never seen before must be done if at all possible. He leaves his home to "save the Visioness ...". He is supplied for his journey with the usual provisions and the unusual items which he uses to advantage. He eventually picks up two traveling companions. First, Simma, who he rescues from Corruption and who becomes convinced that Ehomba seeks a great treasure and travels with him to share in it. And next, Ahlitah, who Ehomba rescues from a toranado who is chasing Ahlitah because he bragged he could run faster than the wind. Ahlitah, a cross between a lion and a cheeta, must now accompany the one who has saved his life. These rescues and other adventures are possible because Ejomba uses those unusal items to a great advantage, so great in fact that most people are convinced that he is much more than just a simple humble herdsman.